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Study of virulence genes in vancomycin resistant Enterococci (vre) from animals and human clinical Bangla Journal
isolates
Bangla Journal
By: Mofoluwaso Adedeji Oyinloye, Bondira Olamide Ndagana, Adeola Egbebi, Pius Abimbola Okiki
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/18.1.1-14
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With Enterococcus species in the leading cause of nosocomial infections and resistance to an array of
Publications Category antibiotics, this study focused to determine the frequency and distribution of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci,
the presence of virulence genes and to determine the relative nucleotide sequence relatedness among isolates 0
Book Publication
using 16S rRNA sequence. A random sampling of 120 fecal samples of cattle, poultry, and piggery, and human
Call for Reviewers clinical isolates was analyzed. Standard bacteriological methods were employed in the isolation and
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characterization of isolates and the disk diffusion method was used in determining their antibiotic resistance
ANNOUNCEMENT profiles. Results showed Enterococcus species in cattle at 100%, followed by clinical isolates at 80%.
Vancomycin resistance was observed at high rates in Enterococcus species from human clinical isolates and
cattle isolates at 90% and 80% respectively. Multiple antibiotic-resistant isolates yielded twelve resistance Email Update
profiles and 16S rDNA sequences identified E. faecalis, E. durans, E. mundtii, and Enterococcus sp. Isolates
from cattle samples were the most probable source of clinical isolates at 78% homology of conserved regions
with the clinical isolates. Virulence determinant genes Asa1 was recorded at66.6%, Cyl at 16.6% and GelE at
8.3% among the isolates. This study established farm animals as possible reservoirs of VRE isolates to man. Submit
Hence, healthy and professional practices among animal farmers with antibiotic usage, as well as hygienic and
preventive measures among hospital workers are here recommended.
Reference
Citation Sample
Mofoluwaso Adedeji Oyinloye, Bondira Olamide Ndagana, Adeola Egbebi, Pius Abimbola Okiki.
Study of virulence genes in vancomycin resistant Enterococci (vre) from animals and human clinical
isolates.
Int. J. Biosci. 18(1), 1-14, January 2021.
https://innspub.net/ijb/study-virulence-genes-vancomycin-resistant-enterococci-vre-animals-human-
clinical-isolates/
Copyright
Copyright © 2021
By Authors and International Network for
Natural Sciences (INNSPUB)
https://innspub.net
Abstract
With Enterococcus species in the leading cause of nosocomial infections and resistance to an array of antibiotics,
this study focused to determine the frequency and distribution of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, the
presence of virulence genes and to determine the relative nucleotide sequence relatedness among isolates using
16S rRNA sequence. A random sampling of 120 fecal samples of cattle, poultry, and piggery, and human clinical
isolates was analyzed. Standard bacteriological methods were employed in the isolation and characterization of
isolates and the disk diffusion method was used in determining their antibiotic resistance profiles. Results
showed Enterococcus species in cattle at 100%, followed by clinical isolates at 80%. Vancomycin resistance was
observed at high rates in Enterococcus species from human clinical isolates and cattle isolates at 90% and 80%
respectively. Multiple antibiotic-resistant isolates yielded twelve resistance profiles and 16S rDNA sequences
identified E. faecalis, E. durans, E. mundtii, and Enterococcus sp. Isolates from cattle samples were the most
probable source of clinical isolates at 78% homology of conserved regions with the clinical isolates. Virulence
determinant genes Asa1 was recorded at66.6%, Cyl at 16.6% and GelE at 8.3% among the isolates. This study
established farm animals as possible reservoirs of VRE isolates to man. Hence, healthy and professional
practices among animal farmers with antibiotic usage, as well as hygienic and preventive measures among
hospital workers are here recommended.
* Corresponding Author: Mofoluwaso Adedeji Oyinloye oyinloyema@abuad.edu.ng
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Data analysis study made up of the poultry (30), cattle (30), piggery
Data presented in this study were subjected to (30) and human clinical isolates (30). The result of
statistical analyses using MEGA 7 software; bacteria isolation and characterization showed
Alignment of sequences (Pairwise and Multiple) was 94(78.3%) growth of Enterococcus species. Table 2
done with gap opening and extension penalty at 15 shows the distribution of Enterococcus isolated from
and 6.66 respectively; percentage relationships of different sources in the course of this study. The
samples from different isolates in relations to the positive samples showed Cattle 30(100%) with
conserved and variable regions of DNA sequences; highest percentage growth, poultry 24(80%), piggery
and the use of Neighbor-joining statistical method at 20(67%) and from human clinical isolates collected,
1000 bootstrap replications for the phylogenetic 20(67%) was confirmed Enterococcus spp. Figure 6
analysis. indicates positive esculin hydrolysis from
Enterococcus species with a visible change of color of
Results and discussion the media to dark brown due to the reaction of
Results of Bacterial Analyses esculetin and ferric ions and pure cultures of the test
A total of one hundred and twenty fecal (120) samples organism on nutrient agar after 24 hours of
from four different sources were collected for this incubation at 37oC.
Table 1. Primers selected for detection of virulence determinants among twelve Enterococcistrains.
Target Gene Sequence (5’- 3’) Position (bp) Product Size (bp)
GelE ACCCCGTATCATTGGTTT F 762 405
ACGCATTGCTTTTCCATC R 1163
CylA GACTCGGGGATTGATAGGC F 6656 688
GCTGCTAAAGCTGCGCTTAC R 7344
AsaI CCAGCCAACTATGGCGGAATC F 3122 529
CCTGTCGCAAGATCGACTGTA R 3651
Antibiotic Test Results Multiple resistance patterns recorded are ERY- CXC-
The percentage antibiotic resistance of cattle isolates VAN (23%), ERY- CXC- AUG- VAN (50%) and ERY-
presented in Fig. 1 shows multiple resistance patterns CXC- AUG(27%). Fig. 2 shows the multiple resistance
with high resistance in the following antibiotics: frequency in piggery isolates; the most potent
Erythromycin (93.3%), cloxacillin (93.3%), antibiotic was ofloxacin at (100%) and the lowest was
vancomycin (80%) and augmentin (60%). Ofloxacin ceftazidime at (10%). Two resistance patterns were
was observed as the most suitable antibiotic in-vitro recorded: CAZ- CRX- CTR- CXC (10%) and CAZ
for cattle isolates with a high potencyat 100%. (15%).
Fig. 3 shows the percentage resistance for poultry isolates was Ofloxacin (63%) and the weakest was
isolates to cloxacillin (79%) followed by erythromycin erythromycin at (17%). Three resistant patterns were
(67%), ceftazidine (63.5%) and vancomycin (41%). recorded from this sample source to include: ERY-
However, the most potent antibiotic to poultry CXC- AUG- VAN (21%), CAZ- CRX- ERY- CXC- AUG
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(8%) and CAZ- CRX- ERY- CXC- AUG –VAN (13%). most effective amongst all the antibiotics used at
In Fig. 4, human clinical isolates were resistant to (75%). Four resistance patterns were recorded in
vancomycin at (90%) having the highest frequency human clinical isolates which include: CAZ- CRX-
followed by ceftazidine (80%), cefuroxime (80%), ERY- CXC-AUG- VAN(15%), CAZ- CRX- ERY- CXC-
cloxacillin (80%), erythromycin (75%), augmentin OFL- VAN (10%), CAZ- CRX- GEN- ERY- CXC-
(80%), ofloxacin (30%), gentamycin (25%) and AUG- VAN (10%) and CAZ (15%).
ceftriaxone (0%). Ceftriaxone was recorded as the
Results of Molecular Analyses presented in Fig. 7. Figure 8 presents the bands of the
Table 3 presents the antibiotic resistance patterns of 16S rDNA gene of 12 isolates with an amplicon size of
the isolates from different sample sources while DNA about 1500bp using the hyper ladder 1 DNA ladder.
bands of representative isolates visualized on safe Table 4 shows the BLAST hits of representative
view-stained 1.5% agarose electrophoresis gel are isolates after sequences were edited.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 show the results of the PCR isolates at (66.6%), Cytolysin (Cyl1) in 2 isolates at
detection of virulence genes in Enterococcus spp: (16.6%) and Gelatinase (GelE) in 1 isolate at (8.3%).
Aggregation substance (Asa1), which was present in 8 This is further detailed in Table 5.
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From the evolutionary analysis using MEGA7 most probable source of infection in humans with
software, it was inferred that cattle samples were the 78% conserved region of 16S rDNA gene (Figure 5).
Fig. 1. Percentage antibiotic susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. from cattle samples to antibiotics.
Fig. 2. Percentage antibiotic susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. from piggery isolates to antibiotics.
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A high incidence of Enterococcus species was (Bang et al., 2017), Turkey (Gökmenet al., 2017) and
observed (78%) in this study as it is on other studies Australia (Barlow et al., 2017), where Enterococcus
from around the world; South Africa (Iweriebor, et species are commensal organisms that inhabit the
al., 2015), Tunisia (Said et al., 2017), China (Liu et al., gastrointestinal tract of animals.
2012), Nigeria (Anyanwu and Obetta 2015), Korea
Fig. 3. Percentage antibiotic susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. from poultry isolates to antibiotics.
The most common species identified in this study was still largely unclear. However, reports have been
E. duransat 67% across all samples analyzed. While made of E. durans to have proven to lead to
the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of hematologic malignancy, and longer duration of
species such as E. faecalis and E. faecium bacteremia hospital stay in bacteremia cases more than the
are well known, those of E. durans bacteremia are known clinical isolates (DePerio et al., 2006).
Fig. 4. Percentage antibiotic susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. from clinical isolates to antibiotics.
It was also reported to cause biliary and urinary tract reports of E. durans infection in humans causing
infection and tended to cause infective endocarditis mainly endocarditis and blood access (Stepanovicet
more than the clinical isolates. Most infections of E. al., 2004; Vijayakrishnan and Rapose, 2012;
durans were reported being community-acquired Kenzakaet al., 2013; Fallavollitaet al., 2016; Zala and
(Ryuet al., 2019). There have been several other Collins, 2016).
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Fig. 5. Conserved regions of aligned 16S rDNA sequences of isolates of clinical and cattle origin using MEGA7
software.
Several genes, including vanA, vanB, vanC, vanD, all samples except the piggery where a low level of
and vanE, contribute to resistance to vancomycin in resistance was seen to all antibiotics. The plasticity of
enterococci, and most commonly, this resistance is the enterococcal genomes allows Enterococci to
seen in E. faecium and E. faecalis, but also has been respond rapidly and adapt to selective constraints by
recognized in E. raffinosus, E. avium, E. durans, and acquiring genetic determinants that increase their
several other enterococcal species (CDC, 2010). ability to colonize or infect the host (VanTyne and
Vancomycin resistance was recorded in isolates from Gilmore, 2014).
Fig. 6. (a) Esculin Hydrolysis by Enterococcusisolate showing dark coloration on bile esculin agar. (b)
Enterococcusspp subculture on Nutrient agar after 24 hours of incubation at 37oC.
Though most vancomycin-resistant Enterococci of resistance (Hall et al., 1992; Torres et al., 1994;
(VRE) belong to the species E. faecium, a major agent Cercenado et al., 1995, Descheemaekeret al., 2000;
in hospital-acquired infections (Flokas et al., 2017), Jenney et al., 2000). However, a recent study reports
this study reports vancomycin-resistant E. durans. E. durans isolates susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin,
There have been different reports of vancomycin and vancomycin (Ryu et al., 2019). All three virulence
resistance in E. durans, vanA and vanBas the means genes, aggregation substance (Asa1), Cytolysin (CylA)
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and Gelatinase (GelE) were present in the study family known to help escape the host immune system
isolates, indicating them as potential pathogens if an by destroying macrophages and neutrophils.
opportunity arises. The gelatinase is an extracellular Moreover, asa1 mediates the production of
metalloprotease known to hydrolyze collagen, gelatin, aggregation substances involved in adherence to
and small peptides (Comerlatoet al., 2013), while the eukaryotic cells; cell aggregation and conjugation
enterococcal cytolysin is a member of bacteriocin (Upadhyaya et al., 2009; Ferguson et al., 2016).
Reports like Foka and Ateba (2019) have recorded the of poultry origin. A study in Eastern Cape Province of
presence of the three genes in E. durans either all in South Africa concluded that Enterococcus spp. from
one isolate or two more/less across the same species. pigs and poultry must be treated with the highest
While Asa1 was present in isolates from all samples caution because they may be reservoirs for virulence
analyzed, CylA was present in isolates of clinical and and antibiotic resistance genes (Iwerieboret al.,
piggery origin and GelE was present only in an isolate 2015). Enterococcus mundtii is rarely reported in
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human infections and rarely known to harbor and others but the resistance gene of vanC has been
virulence genes, as the case of the isolate in this study reported (Foka and Ateba, 2019).
It has been associated with raw milk, plants, the Acinetobacter, etc. (De Kwaadstenietet al., 2005;
intestinal tract of humans and dairy cattle (Collins et Ferreira et al., 2007; Settanniet al., 2008).
al., 1986; Giraffaet al., 1997; Giraffa, 2003; Especheet
al., 2009), it has low GC content ranging between 38 It was reported to be used for the prevention of
and 39% and lacks catalase and cytochrome-C mastitis in cows (Especheet al., 2009). However, a
oxidase enzymes, but can contribute in carbohydrates case report of endophthalmitis in a 66-year-old
fermentation to produce lactic acid. It produces individual and reports of the presence of some
enterocins such as Bacteriocin ST15, that are quite virulent genes (such as asa1, esp, ace, hyl, and efaA)
active against bacteria such as Pseudomonas, calls for caution with the isolate (Higashideet al.,
Clostridium, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus, and 2005; Trivedi et al., 2011).
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This study also reported that the isolates had a high (Lindenstraubet al., 2011). According to Kim et al.
incidence of the aggregation substance gene as (2013), it is important to note that the presence of
observed in other studies (Kataoka et al., 2014; virulent strains among Enterococcus isolates alone is
Ossiprandi and Zerbini, 2015). It is of importance to not predictive of infection as there may be other
note that Enterococcus strains can have silent mediators of pathogenicity that have yet to be
virulence genes as well and that environmental elucidated. It has been suggested that pathogenicity is
signals play a vital role in gene expression, hence also related to the ability of virulent strains to grow in
influencing pathogenicity (Iseppiet al., 2015). high densities in the intestinal tract and spread to
other sites in the body. Host factors, such as
Regardless of the fact that the gelE gene was least predisposing medical conditions, immune status, and
prevalent, it is not indicative of the production of exposure to antibiotics, are also thought to play a role
gelatinase. It has been suggested that other genes are in the ability of Enterococci to establish infection
associated with the expression of gelatinase (Mundy et al., 2000).
Conserved nucleotide sequence analysis of the procedures and a good level of hygiene which involves
isolates in this study showed that isolates from cattle hand hygiene, contact/barrier precautions and source
were closest to human clinical isolates at 79%, control.
establishing the fact that animals act as reservoirs of
most bacteria species later found in humans. Acknowledgment
According to Kataoka et al. (2014), animals are Authors will like to place on records the contributory
generally not affected by enterococcal infections; role of the staff of the Bioscience Department of
however, they act as a reservoir for pathogenic International Institute of Tropical Agriculture,
strains. Ibadan, for their support in the molecular analyses.
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